| Show GOOS GODS CONTINENT I 1 rev sheldon jackson retiring moderator at the opening of the presbyterian by terian general assembly at winona indiana may in his sermon sald said in part it to is not without significance that america should have remained hidden from the civilized world until the close of the fifteenth century for ages history had recorded in brick and stone papyrus and parchment the rise and growth the decay and fall of nations in asiu asia africa and europe but the story of america remained a blank its very existence was unknown this to Is the continent which god has reserved for I his its church this Is the land which god has given his church to possess to take and to hold as a base of operations for the conquest of the world from its heights the church of the united states sends out its beaton beacon light eastward to the and formalism or europe and the heathenism of africa westward to the dead conservatism of asia and southward to the benighted millions of the neglected continent was there ever a better base was there ever a stronger leverage for uplifting the race was there ever it a grander theater for action and on this vantage ground god has placed the american christian the resultant nt combination of english tenacity scotch shrewdness german steadiness celtic vivacity dutch sturdiness nees hugenot seriousness and scandinavian thrift the very best beat and highest type of character a character that brought under the uway sway of power of the religious motives full ot of faith and the holy ghost 40 becomes invincible in the conversion of the world this und line of thought Is in perfect berfect harmony with the views of many of the readers of the news but the application of it to any church not american seems to be illogical his closing words were we are living in one of those great crises of the worlds history the age demands consecrated men and women consecrated time consecrated energies and consecrated wealth shall it have them begin to possess that thou may inherit the land |
